Jayhawks Travel To Texas Tech Wednesday

The Kansas women’s basketball team will attempt to pick up its third-straight Big 12 Conference victory when it travels to Texas Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 20. The Jayhawks (15-9, 4-7) enter the game having won three out of their last four games, while the Lady Raiders (14-11, 2-9) own an impressive 10-4 mark in games play at home. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. tip-off in United Spirit Arena and will be aired on the Texas Tech Television Network.

FAST BREAKS

-Kansas sophomore guard-forward Danielle McCray has recorded double-doubles in back-to-back games. McCray had 24 points and 10 boards versus Colorado. She then followed that up with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Nebraska, including scoring the final three points for KU. McCray hit the game-winning free throw with 1.4 seconds remaining to give Kansas the win over NU.

-Sophomore guard LaChelda Jacobs has posted double figures in two out of the last three games. Jacobs had 12 points versus Kansas State and posted 10 points in the Jayhawks’ win over Nebraska. She also dished a career-high six dimes versus the Cornhuskers.

-For the second time in conference play, KU is playing back-to-back games on the road.

-Kansas is ranked No. 29 in the latest RPI rankings on collegerpi.com. The Jayhawks’ strength of schedule is listed as the 13th toughest in the country.

A LOOK AT TEXAS TECH

Texas Tech is 14-11 on the year and 2-9 in the Big 12 after losing at then No. 20/19 Texas A&M, 70-56, last Sunday in College Station. The Lady Raiders own Big 12 wins over #24/23 Texas and Colorado, both at home. On the year, junior Dominic Seals paces the Lady Raiders in scoring with a 13.8 average, followed by senior Erin Myrick at 10.2 and sophomore Jordan Murphree at 8.8. Seals is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.7 boards per outing and Myrick is averaging 5.8 rebounds. Myrick is shooting a team-high 51.6 percent from the field and Murphree is shooting a 28.2 percent from three-point range. Seals is 73.3 percent from the free throw line. Moore has team highs of 96 assists and 39 steals. Seals is the top shot blocker with 33 blocks. Tech is shooting 41.8 percent from the field, 27.4 percent from three-point range and 68.4 percent from the charity stripe. Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry is 29-27 in her second season in Lubbock. Curry owns an overall mark of 208-78 in her ninth season in the business.

KANSAS-TEXAS TECH SERIES HISTORY

The Lady Raiders lead the all-time series 10-3, including a 5-1 mark in games played in Lubbock. Texas Tech has won eight-straight in the series, including a 66-65 win over KU in Lawrence last season. KU head coach Bonnie Henrickson is 1-3 versus TTU, picking up her lone victory while serving as the head coach at Virginia Tech.

A LOOK AT KANSAS

Kansas enters Wednesday’s contest with a 15-9 overall mark, including a 4-7 Big 12 Conference record after knocking off Colorado and Nebraska last week. Sophomore guard/forward Danielle McCray is the top Jayhawk in scoring (14.6) and rebounding (7.4). McCray ranks in the top 10 in the Big 12 in both categories. Fellow sophomore guard Sade Morris is also in double figures in points per game with 10.3 tallies an outing. Morris also gives KU 3.8 boards and 2.3 assists per game. Freshman center Krysten Boogaard was inserted into the starting line-up after the team returned from its holiday break and ranks third on the team in scoring with 9.5 points a game to go along with 5.5 caroms per contest. Boogaard also leads the Jayhawks in blocks with 27 on the season, as well as field goal percentage at 53.0 percent. Senior forward Taylor McIntosh is second on the team in rebounding with 6.5 boards per game, while also dropping in 6.8 points. Junior point guard Ivana Catic is the team-leader in assists with 3.5 dishes per game, while also collecting 38 pilfers on the year. Freshman forward Nicollette Smith comes off the bench to provide 6.1 points per game and leads KU with 34 triples on the season. The Jayhawks are coached by Bonnie Henrickson who owns a 55-58 mark in her fourth season at the helm of the Kansas program. Henrickson owns an overall coaching mark of 213-120 in 11 seasons on the sidelines.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

– Kansas has two players from the state of Texas in sophomores LaChelda Jacobs (Mansfield) and Porscha Weddington (Temple). Texas Tech does not have any native Kansans on its roster, but does have a Kansas City, Mo., native in junior guard Keisha Walker. Walker attended Hickman Mills High School and then Fort Scott (Kan. ) Community College prior to arriving at Texas Tech.

– KU and TTU shared one common opponent in SMU prior to tipping off Big 12 play. The Jayhawks lost at SMU in November, while Texas Tech defeated the Mustangs in December. Both teams claim wins over Big 12 foe Colorado.